The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that Gem avocados will be assessed at the same rate as other varieties of Hass avocados beginning Jan. 1, 2018. The assessment rate for all Hass avocados marketed or imported for the fresh market in the United States will be $0.025 cents per pound.

The Hass Avocado Board recommended this addition to the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research and Information Program. The board provided evidence to USDA that the Gem avocado variety is so similar to Hass avocados that it is indistinguishable to consumers in the fresh market. The board is authorized to collect assessments on other varieties of fresh avocados by the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research, and Information Order.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized 22 industry-funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets and conduct important research and promotion activities. The Agricultural Marketing Service provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which helps ensure fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.